Hello everyone, today, we bring you a heartfelt story from the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. Maggie Steffens, a three-time gold medalist in water polo, is mourning the sudden and tragic loss of her sister-in-law, Lulu Conner.
Lulu had come to Paris to support Steffens but passed away at the age of 26 due to a medical emergency.
Steffens shared the devastating news with the Associated Press on July 28, expressing the deep bond she shared with Lulu. “She was so excited for the Olympic Games,” Steffens said. “We’re really close. She’s the light of the world. She just brings so much joy to everyone. She always brings people together.” Steffens married Bobby Conner, Lulu’s brother, in November 2023.
In a touching tribute, Steffens dropped a bouquet of flowers into the Seine during the opening ceremony on July 26 to honor Lulu. Steffens acknowledged the overwhelming support from her teammates and expressed her determination to honor Lulu’s memory by competing with her spirit in mind.
“My team has been a really big support system for me,” she said. “I’ve been obviously really struggling, and my husband as well, and his entire family. I mean, it’s a nightmare, and it’s completely shocking. But I think just feeling her spirit here is, like I said, it’s amazing. And I hope that we can make her proud every single day.”
The U.S. women’s water polo coach, Adam Krikorian, echoed these sentiments, saying that Lulu’s energy and excitement will be honored through the team’s performance. They plan to play with the same energy that Lulu had shown in her support.
A heartwarming moment was shared by Flavor Flav, a dedicated fan of the U.S. women’s water polo team. He posted a video of Bobby Conner presenting him with a special clock necklace that Lulu had made for him before her death. “Imma be wearing a VERY SPECIAL second clock for the duration of the Olympics and more,,, MADE WITH LOVE BY ARTIST LULU CONNER,” Flav wrote on X. The team’s representative also confirmed that Lulu had made similar clocks for every member of the women’s water polo team.
The women’s water polo preliminary rounds began on July 27, with the U.S. team securing a victory over Greece with a score of 15-6. Their next game is against Spain on July 29.
During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Steffens emphasized the importance of unity and support from her teammates in overcoming challenges. She told PEOPLE, “Alone there are a lot of things you can’t do, but together the impossible seems possible. It’s all about the circle, it’s all about the team and knowing at the end of the day all of our hands are in.”
For more updates on the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls and ongoing coverage of the Games, visit people.com. Don’t miss out on the biggest stories from the Games by signing up for the Going for Gold newsletter. You can watch the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, beginning July 26, on NBC and Peacock.
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